THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1950.
WHEN THE HUMAN TORPEDOES STRUCK AT GIBRALTAR-Chapter Two
'Crazy' torpedo dives
under ship
112 ft.
Leader escapes to secret base hidden by a school
by
of porpoises
FRANK GOLDSWORTHY formerly a British Naval Intolligonco Officer at Gibraltar and in Italy
fary.
Years later, when Crabb was running an experimental diving
Venice, Visintini's station at widow, the daughter of an admiral, became Crabb's secre
It was May 1943 before tho 1942 the 4,000-ton But if the Spaniards hnd Italians could bring enough new really been inquisitive about the "machinery" to the Olterra to tanker Olterra was lyft-long cases of boller tuber, resume the attacks. ing at
Lieut. Commander Ernesto breakwater brought from Italy by lorry.
charge. took now herth just inside Algeciras they would have found just one-Notari
foot of boiler tubing at each Although in the late thirds-at- Harbour.
end and 14 feet of human least ten years older than the average operator-Nolar! took She was one of two torpedo in between.
part in the attacks himself.
of the other Leader on one Italian tankers detained in
1wo torpedoes was Midshipman the British.contraband con-
Celli, the only man to return to fro anchorage in Gibraltar
the Olterra in December. Bay when Italy entered the
war.
mea
'OUR TARGETS' Four warships
the night of December 7, 1042, Visintini took a
to J11
the bridge and before the pointed to the silhouettes of two
and two
nireratt battleships
Har- carriers inside Gibraltar hour three miles away.
Be Fald: "There are tarpels."
A few minutes declaration of war both cap- radio tains
sceret rerelved signals: "Scuttle your ships."
When the message came, "Italy is at war," the rea-cocks were open and the ships begim to sink in shallow water.
Both were lowed Algeciras Harbour.
The Spaniards put a "neu- board the trality" mard ton Olterra but the young soldiers.
Interested niorc scrounging elgarettes than in re- porting suspicious Incidents.
were
Notari abandoned all hope of penetrating Gibraltar Harbour. ite selected his targets from the stops in the open anchorage.
wero
CRRA
The secret
ALGECIRAS
door of the
Oltorra
Twice before the first of the The hole cut in the Olterra fery sparkle of his phospliores- new attacks the Italians took through which
the torpedoes cent walte would bring a patrol launched under our their torpedoes out through the
water, boat in pursuit. Ollerrn's underwater door and cruised in the darkness round Algeciras Harbour.
Three
I took the men on the tor- pedoes several hours to reach the hachour approaches.
Indment
Harrison
forpedoes made
Notark made a wide
The 7,000-ton Liberty ship Pat Beneath his target, the 7,000
and the 7,500-ton ton U. S. Liberty ship Herrison Malistd. were heavily damaged Grey Ot: he encountered a new and the 4,875-ton Camerata deferice device — barbed wire became a total loss
hanging in the darkness.
Ite made
BIL UCHANT FIER,
MET DEFENCE- AJ KARBOWE BATAS
ULTERRA
BeU,
LA LIKEA
GIBRA
BERTHS
28
266
(24)
22TE
-201
of the diving party, was put ting his foot into the
navai
:16
water when the 5001b,
charge exploded on the other side of the zhip.
14.
142
a
terrific
8
6
It bhów
holo in the enging
room
metal
A piece of
g right passed through the ship, out through the starboard plates, and killed the seaman standing guard over Giannoli In the wheelhouse of the inunch.
Pelty Officer Bell, who had escaped death by seconds, was! searching other ships' within an hour.
Within minutes of the Harrison Grey Olia explosion, Midshipman Coll's warhead broke the 10,000-lon Nor- wegian tanker Thor- shovdi in snove
In two, and
sent great masses of thick oil drifting across the bay. The bird charge heavily damaged the British 6,000-ton Stanridge, All three ships sank in shallow water.
With
of
CONFESSION Governor's panic AFTER the Italian Armistico In September 1943 one of the Italatis confessed the whole Olterra plot to the local Spanish governor.
Then, to him, it seemed that
the exception a miracle happened. A school Giannoll, all the Italians reached circuit of porpoises, a familiar sight to the Olterra safely, and left the shore to Gibraltar au close to the Spanish
yachtsmen, Joined next day for Italy. All the time they could hear Into
the thud of small charges ex- attack on the night of May 7-8 keep out of the main glare of hirn, and frolicked around him all the way to Algeciras provid- gate. and returned safe to the Olterra. the searchlights. ploding by the harbour Kambled They
un getting
ing the perfect cover for his through between charges.
Wake. Perhap
Thing the
which them on was the seventh of the secretly "Decalogue of An printed Assault Group Operator,"
None of the ships was sus- He went deep to pass under it, It reads:-
pleiously near Algeciras-Notari and reached the bottom of the Your life is precious, but the denied himself that luxury-and ship. objective is more precious. This in the morning discarded breath- must be remembered in the ing equipment planted moment of netion. Repeat it to Italian agents was found on the yourself a hundred times a day, northern shore. and swear
The incidents were Indeed suspicious 'for they were organis- ed by Liela Visimini, one of Italian the beating behind the human torpedo offensive.
31
Visintini began to buld secret base inside the Ollerra.
First the Italians cut a 2511.. long section in the feel bulk head separating the how com- partment from a small cargo hold and hinged it like a coffee stall front..
Then. telling the Spaniards they must clean the trimming tanks, they pumped out the for- ward tanks till the bows rose bigh cut of the water.
DOOR CUT In ship's side
ABLY one morning, with the EALLY leur security mard
smd arleep a dt. door-wos cul in the side of the ship, opening into the how compartment as fect below the normal water Fine.
It was lilnged to open in- wards, and so neatly done that only a diver could have detreled it. When the ship resigned her
hour of trit will not fail in the
Three human torpedoen set gut. The crew of one got to the bottom of the entrance act, but found unexpected barbed wire along the zen bed.
outer
NO EVIDENCE Of Olterra's role
FRON
by
the
His No 3 was a petty oflor Gimnoli, a fast-minute subati-
a wide circuit to avoid the Spanish sentry on the end of the quay, and reached the Olterra.
ON THE RUDDER For two hours
tute, comparatively inex-M
perienced on human lopedoes.
MEANWHILE Giannoll, torn from his seat by the plunge of the torpedo, surfaced on the
He swam to the stern, stripped and off his breathing gear shivered in his woollen combina rubber suit and for two hours tions on the rudder of the ship,
When he Judge the other
The governor was ferriied that Allied protests would be visited on his head. and de- manded the destruction of the evidence before the ship was surrendered.
The task was hopeless. With
personnel the out any trained Italian consular oficiuls tried in vain to thrust the torpedoes out through the side of the ship.
The plan, as usual, was to other side of the ship, and fasten the delachable warbead thought Noiri drowned. to n line between bRge keel - British naval head clamps, but Glannall dropped the
When we boarded the ship as quarters in Gibraltar Dock- fine and the warhead had to be
armistice terms we found among Shaken by the charges, their yard a man could see, with his clomiped direct to the port bilge
she was taken over under the torpedo damaged, they withdrew, raked eye, the upperworks of kech. · ·
the shambles below decks two Olterra autlined above While the was being com- ank the torpedo and swam to the
torpedoes broken up by their picted the torpedo begun to rise, Astonished Algeciras Harbour wall.
own scuttling charges and one inole. the
back in the the sur trews would be heard
threaving to break soldies
their British
The gul.
possibility that houts and fished them
Olterra was associated with the face, Notari opened the diving Olterra, and the time was a still serviceable on its slings. prearranged story They told a
the torpedo
plunged down out the warhead he had fixed him- of being brought by submarine, human torpedo attacks was not valves too wide and suddenly proaching for the explosion of selt, he swam along the side of The
second overlooked; but there was never No. 2 on the
of control. forpedo disappeared from his a scrap of visible evidence to
Lungs bursting, head splitting, the ship and shouted for help.
was hauled on board, and Re somewhere in the bay. 3 disclose her real role.
Notari fumbled with the con-
depth his enpture was flashed to naval body was never found, and his
as the luminous trols companion returned alone to the always returned to Italy, but or faure needle crept past its 34- headquarters. Oferrit.
A Jaunch patrolling with the (112 feet) limit-three board the Olterra remained the metre
"resident con- times the norunt training depth, duty diver hurried to the Harri- assault group's
As suddenly as it had gone son Grey Olis to collect the ship. cpirator."
tied up alongside began the torpedo down,
a wild The launch He was Elvio Moscatelli, a
the surface. Notari on the starboard side,
to break tile neck naval surgeon with engineering rush 10
Gjumoll had been taken on lo Petty Officer skill. It was his custom to put expected on old clothes, and go out in the agast the bottom of the ship or the launch, and bay with the Jocul Spanish rip his rubber suit to shree's on
Visintin and his companion died. Their bodies were found rasite the harbour two weeks later. They had been killed by explosive charges dropped at the
pute.
5 MEN LOST Nothing gained,
normal trim. the how compart, CO Italy had lost five men and
was still dry.
Between attacks the operators
fishermen.
There, trailing a line or hawk-
ment was flooded, but the hold gained Tothing, But the ing fruit to the Allied merchant
When the night came for an could be lowered attack, they into the water and puss out of the ship through the door in the side to do their job.
secret of the Olterra was still seamen, he watched the British naval diving party on thele
there.
search for Kiew were evLI
have
the barbed wire; but with resounding splash he broke sur- face n yard from the ship's ske.
10
ONLY CHANCE Surfaco retreat The plan was to sling human safe.
Visintial and his companion 1outine underwater torpedoes on pulleys in the tow
ALF conscious, unable were buried at sea with naval bombs he compartment.
think or act, he iny over honours,
When he met Crabb later in the controls, expecting shouts or There was one wreath. It.
on the sea by Italy he did not walt for an in- rifle shots. was thrown
Balley and troduction. He said: "I know Lieutenants B
by night;
Nothing happened. "Buster" Crabb. the R. N. V. R. you well officers
whose task it had been watched you and your men for Notari gathered his wits. But first they had to
Giannoli had vanished. 50 the that al
night to
to search the brought from Italy,
run only at lop and the "resident motor would
worked Sunulards were told, "We must bottoms after the attack, know hours at a thing."
out speed, and at that speed diving ing that at any moment a war- conspirator"
third attack, was impossible. which was made on the night Notari took his only slender le might kill or maim them.
Notari chance-a full-speed retreat on It was
a generous gesture, of August 3-4, 1943. much misunderstood and criti- was in charge and three for- the surface for nearly four miles, expecting any moment that the elsed by others on the Rock.
be
overhaul the ship's engines to be ready for victory."
Now a human torpedo, with out the tail assembly and the warhead, in 14 feet long and not an easy thing to smuggle.
Notari
heat explosion within half a the plan for the
pedoes were used,
LOW LEAVES BEAVERBROOK
Day
So Happy
To thrEditor
...Sir...
Fam disqushiy with your dispute
Disgusted
Cartoonist
How dari
you...
здоровя
WANTED NEW CARTOONIST [Must be obedient, funny despectable. Good wages and oulingje use
(of Managers andỹ chain.
FAREWELL GOES OUT SIGHING"
World Copyright. By arrangemant with Evening Blendara,
Slowly
The
The Olterra became for a brief period a showpiece for visiting admirals, then went back to her humble duties as a merchant plodding She is still ship. round the Mediterranean doing short voyages from Genea.
NEXT WEEK The man who sank the Valiant
London Express Service
A pigeon
works
the 8-hour day-
RI
ZREDIFFUSION ISKIOMETRĄ,
22,000
24,751
REDIFFUSION
SETS NOW TUNED IN TO REDIFFUSION'S 17-HOURS-A-DAY OF
Perfect Listening!
now
* There's good reason why 24,751
familles In Hongkong have Rediffusion Installed good reason why you, should telephone now for your In- stallation. Perfect reception of Perfect programmes cost you only 59 a month the Installs- tion only $20. Telephone un now for
PERFECT LISTENING!
Install
& REDIFFUSION!
CALL NINCHENE JUIST, HOWLOON STIMI
Time For Serocalein
as Hong Kong's chilly days approach, tho common cold comes out to play with renewed vigour
thanks to Serocalcin its playtime of infection is only short-lived.
At this time many thousands are starting their prophylactic course. Make sure of your supply by ordering Serocalcin now.
SEROCALCIN
FOR THE PREVENTION AND. TREATMENT OF COLDS
Packed in tubes of 60 tablets.
Pharmacists are reminded that the sole selling agcuts for Serocalcin in Hong, Kong are Shewan, Tomes & Co., Lid Chung Tin Buliding, Telephone 27781/3.
PEKING ARt rug co. 221A Nothan Road,-
Kowloon,
.3-pcs. Bed Room Sot. Hooked Rugs. consisting of:
·1 ——7' x 4' & 2—41⁄4ˆ × Z1⁄4'
FOR $160. ONLY LARGE SELECTION,
it's on the record Sparkling
by CHAPMAN. PINCHER
only an eight-hour day, then take the rest of the TOMING pigeons sent off on long-distance flights work| time off to relax their wings, Cambridge scientists have just discovered,
This "union rule" rate of working was revealed when the scientists fitted pigeons with the ingenious atomic device shown in the sketch.
It is the smallest flight-recorder ever invented. Built o a miniature shooting gallery and weighing less than 1-100th of an punce, it clips to a wing-feather.
A speck of
radlum fires
atomic "bullets" to- warda 0 target inade of specially sensitive photogra- phic flim,
| MINIVANOS
кло кліста
|| KAITINIT
When the pigeon hng its wings fold- ed the bullets are prevented from striking the target by a pin-head-sized steel ball, This boll falls out of the hole which holds it. in place when the pigeon takes off. It stays out until the bird lands again
The device is only a quarter of an inch wide and just over half an inch in length,
Butlets, therefore, .keep hit-
him with the flight tests, which ting the target only as long as are all going on. the bird keeps.
fying.
When the target-film is
de-
WINDOWS MIRRORS
GLASSES SILVERWARE
TILE • PORCELAIN - CHROMIUM
*** 'GLASS WAX'
GLASS WAX
& Product of
GOLD
·SKAL
At All Leading Stores And Dispensaries.
Port-Sale: Agents:
SHEWAN TOMES & CO., LTD. Chung Tay Ulds:.. - Tel: 17781,
ICS
"I Can Succeed".
should be everyone's motto but it would be extremely difficult you don't go They have built a Mark II. for that specialised training
meter in which flight
the which counts so much In veloped the number of bullets
'later life. movable radium. is fixed to a which have struck it can be
flying time arin. This records counted by the marks they have only while the pigeon is Cap- made. The number of bullets ping its winge
which the radium fires of every- By subtracting the dapping
minutes known.
So the exact time the pigeon has been in the air can be cal culated..
time from the total timo night, tho selentists:con cover how long the bird by gliding.
of
dis- files
A later model may be fitted with n miniature compass to.
The device-described in the scientific Journal, Nature--was Dr Invented by 27-year-old Denys Wilkinson of the Caven- record the time spent dying In
different directions. dish Physics Laboratory. Zoo- logist Geoffrey Matthews helped
-(London Express Berulcv)
1.C.S., can provide you with ancha vocational training along carefully. planned lines.
Write for particulars of The subject you are inter- ested in to
ONLINE SAKHTU,
INTERNATIONAL "CORRESPONDENCE
· SEDOLS (OVERSEAS)LTE.
ŽAR, BATTERY ZA, SPORT, AWAKE? 2014
PANTEEN
ROCHE
THE FIRST VITAMINIZED
· HAIR TONIG
Danzteerz
STOPS LOSS HAIR WITHIN
A FEW WEEKS
Panteen
Now The world-famous quality. Hair Tonic at specially reduced pricast
Save Your Epas
by coneelting
"CHINESE OPTICAL CO,
แบบ